Story courtesy of www.universalhub.com

A family that's run a liquor store in Providence for three years wants to branch out to the South End, but is already running into opposition from neighbors who say enough's enough.

The Boston Licensing Board had a hearing scheduled for today on Vikesh Patel's request for permission to buy the liquor license from JR's Liquors on American Legion Highway in Roslindale so his family could open Bullfinch Liquors at 1721 Washington St., at Mass. Ave.

But at the request of his lawyer, Howard Miller, the board postponed the hearing so that Patel could meet with neighbors first.

Two residents of the building in which Patel would be buying a commercial condo and an official from the area Main Street district attended anyway, despite, they said, only having heard about the hearing within the last couple days.

Residents said the intersection of Washington and Mass. Ave. already has two liquor stores within a quick walk and that it already has a growing problem with drug and liquor-fueled addicts wandering the area. The last thing it needs is another liquor store, they said.

Miller said he hoped that at neighborhood meetings, he and the Patels could convince neighbors they would be an asset to the neighborhood. Miller said the Patels' store in Providence has never had a problem.

Also opposed: Steve Yung, owner of Seiyo, which includes a wine shop just a couple doors down from the proposed new liquor store. Noting liquor-license applicants are required to prove a public need, he said, "Do we really need it? I don't think we do."

In January, the board approved a liquor license for Wine Riot on Tremont Street after a contentious hearing at which some residents - and liquor-store owners - said the South End already has all the alcohol access it needs.